Deadline Hollywood first reported that Foley was a front-runner for “Fifty Shades Darker” and sources now tell Variety that negotiations are expected to start shortly. Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are attached to reprise their roles, with author E.L. James, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti producing. James’ husband, Niall Leonard, penned the script.

Execs had been meeting with directors over the past several months since Sam Taylor-Johnson, who directed the first film in the trilogy, announced that she would not be returning to helm.

Production will begin in the first quarter of 2016, with the film set to bow on Feb. 14, 2017. Casting should get under way once Foley’s deal is worked out.

Foley directed several stylish dramas in the 1980s and ’90s, including “After Dark, My Sweet,” “At Close Range,” “Fear” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.” His first film was the 1984 romance “Reckless,” which starred Daryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn as lovers from opposite backgrounds. He most recently worked on Netflix’s “House of Cards.”

Since the british book was never published in America and the british movie was never released in America, yet the commie turd britshit stupidly based the impossible antiAmerican story in America, will the new movie be based back in its home on britain island or will the britshit find another place to stupidly base the impossible story.

And so it begins!! He hasn’t even signed on the dotted line yet, but yet the nay-sayers, literary snobs and every critic and their diggity dog is already starting to badmouth the direction of this franchise. Soooo, @stevenkovacs, I say there’s over 100 million fans out there that think you’re full of crap! We looking forward to the remaining two adaptations of the trilogy and think that James Foley will do a fine job, as he has with his other projects…..